But the question has become broader than whether Martin will be back in a few weeks or for the start of next season. After Wednesday’s comments from multiple players in the locker room and Thursday’s statement from attorney David Cornwell (which was, as we’ve surmised, aimed at getting the players to shut up about Jonathan Martin), a source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT that Martin’s current objective is to try to resolve the dispute.

Though Martin intends, based on Cornwell’s statement, to return to football, it’s unclear whether Martin wants to play for the Dolphins or, at this point, whether the Dolphins want him. Team administration and/or the coaching staff may say “yes”; the locker room may say (or at least grumble) “no”.

As a result, resolving the situation could entail an agreement that Martin will be waived. Complicating such an outcome would be the balance of Martin’s $1.919 million signing bonus. Based on a four-year contract with seventeen paychecks per year, Martin has not yet earned $1.15 million of that amount.

On the surface, the easy solution would be to treat the cash as money spent and move on. But the Dolphins would end up taking a cap hit if Martin is waived, and they’d be potentially setting a precedent for future players in Miami or elsewhere who decide they want out after they’ve received a signing bonus. ...

Was the lawyer trying to bully the Phins coming out in support of Incognito to be quiet or other saved messages would be revealed?

Sat Nov 09, 2013 4:03 pm

AQNOR

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Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:17 amPosts: 3866

Re: Effort to resolve Martin situation could be coming

Quote:

...

Dolphins players spoke to the media for the first time since Martin’s attorney released a blistering statement Thursday night that said Martin was harassed by teammates and even physically attacked. The attorney also quoted from a voice mail in which an unnamed player described sex acts he wanted to perform on Martin’s sister.

Miami players denied ever seeing Martin harmed by any teammates.

Cornerback Brent Grimes said the whole situation has become “out of control” and that it’s unfair that private messages sent to Martin are becoming public.

“If you talk to your friends and they recorded everything you said, people would say, ‘Oh my God,’ ” Grimes said. “It is what it is. (Martin) is doing what he’s got to do, I guess. All we can do is play football.”

Grimes said he believes someone is telling Martin “to go that route.” Grimes’ wife, Miko Grimes, wrote on Twitter, “If you think a 25-year-old man is capable of being bullied by his teammates, is it possible he’s now being bullied by his attorney/family?” ...

Cornerback Nolan Carroll acknowledged that players who left Martin vulgar messages and now might be part of the NFL investigation could be “a little bit” distracted. ...

Cornerback Nolan Carroll acknowledged that players who left Martin vulgar messages and now might be part of the NFL investigation could be “a little bit” distracted. ...

Grimes said it best, you know HOW MANY guys probably leave crazy messages that are inappropriate to the public??? I mean when guys mess around in a private phone call you say things to mess around and you mostly don't REALLY mean what you say and you certainly don't expect someone to tape them and go public with it.

I think Jonathan Martin is a big puss that is probably being coached by his parents. All speculative of course, but I would not be surprised at this point if that is all true.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9953336/don-shula-says-richie-incognito-backfired-miami-dolphinsDon Shula weighed in on the bullying scandal that has rocked the Miami Dolphins, claiming that the once-proud franchise does not need players like Richie Incognito to win championships.Shula, the Hall of Fame coach who guided the Dolphins to back-to-back Super Bowl wins in the 1970s, recently told the Miami Herald that he is hurt by the saga that has become a national controversy.Incognito played all 16 games in 2012 and was eventually voted onto Miami's leadership counsel by his teammates in 2013."You win with good people on and off the field," the 83-year-old Shula told the Herald. "They took a chance on a guy with a bad reputation, and it backfired on them."The NFL is investigating the troubled relationship between Incognito and teammate Jonathan Martin, who left the Dolphins last week because of emotional issues stemming from alleged harassment and misconduct.Incognito was suspended last Sunday for conduct detrimental for the team after being identified as one of multiple teammates who harassed Martin, who will discuss the case late next week with a special investigator hired by the NFL. Allegations by the second-year offensive tackle include a malicious physical attack by a teammate."It hurts," Shula told the Herald. "You hate to see it happening."Several Dolphins players refuted Martin's claim of the physical attack, saying Saturday that they were unaware of any violence in the locker room.Incognito has long been known for out-of-bounds behavior, including a May 2012 incident that surfaced this week. A police report said a female volunteer at a Dolphins charity golf tournament complained that Incognito harassed and molested her.

Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said Saturday that the team was aware of the 2012 incident and "took immediate action," declining to reveal specifics.

Shula is the winningest coach in NFL history and posted a 328-156-6 career record in 33 seasons -- 26 with the Dolphins. He coached Miami to the only undefeated season in league history in 1972, when the Dolphins won Super Bowl VII to complete a 14-0 season.

The Dolphins also won the Super Bowl the following year under Shula, who told the Herald that he wants to see the franchise "get back that credibility."

The Dolphins (4-4) haven't played since Oct. 31, when they beat the Cincinnati Bengals on an overtime safety. Miami visits the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.

_________________2015. Jets & Bills new regimes & no QB. Pats , nowhere to go but down. We come back with best young QB in the game plus we keep the best regime intact. Making of dynasty.

Sat Nov 09, 2013 9:47 pm

Makchell

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Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:04 pmPosts: 7648

Re: Effort to resolve Martin situation could be coming

"You win with good people on and off the field," the 83-year-old Shula told the Herald. "They took a chance on a guy with a bad reputation, and it backfired on them."

YES!! The Don agrees with us Mitch! lol.

Sat Nov 09, 2013 9:51 pm

Finhead34

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Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:57 amPosts: 5248Location: Houston, Texas

Re: Effort to resolve Martin situation could be coming

And they also took a chance with a puss and lost that second round gamble.....

Sat Nov 09, 2013 10:15 pm

Dphins4me

2014 Survival Champ

Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:23 pmPosts: 5325

Re: Effort to resolve Martin situation could be coming

Don Shula wrote:

"You win with good people on and off the field," .

I know he is an 83 Yr old man, but I'm pretty sure he signed a few risky character players over his coaching career.

Sat Nov 09, 2013 11:22 pm

bobby0112

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Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 11:35 amPosts: 1479Location: Lakeland, Fl

Re: Effort to resolve Martin situation could be coming

Finhead34 wrote:

And they also took a chance with a puss and lost that second round gamble.....